Airship



J. F. OGRADY.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1918.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

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1. F. OGRADY.

AIRSHIP.

lIPPLIcATIoII FILED IIILY 24.19Is.

I 1 ,$330,389. Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

C] I rom/I m Y Application filed .Tilly 24, 1918. Serial No.`24`6,552.

outward of the tube of the balloon and are longitudinally movable over theV tube` 6` in y offconnected with the bag may, if desired,

N UNITED lsiaiiis PATENT cierren.

i JAMES r. ocfniinY, or sissEToN, soufrn DAKOTA.

` 'Amsnin i To @ZZ wimmelt mag/concern:

Be it known thatIjJAMEs li". OGRADL a Icitizen of the Unitedv States, residing at Sissetom in the county of Roberts and State of South Dakota,"have invented new and `useful Improvements in Airships, of which the following is a specification.`

This invention relates to improvements in airships, and it consists in the novel features and combination of parts hereinafter described Iand particularly pointed out in the claim.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a dirigible airship comprising a balloon portion having a 4car supported therefrom, means being carried by said car, and if desired actuated by the propelling mechanism therefor, for inflatingor deflat ing the ballocnto control the ascending or descending of the craft.

A further object of the invention is to produce an airship in which the balloon portion thereof may be telescoped when the device is not in use, to provide a comparatively small bundle for storage or shipping.

A still further object of the invention is to produce in a dirigible airship means arranged both interiorly and exteriorly ofthe balloon portion thereof Vfor effectively retaining the same against collapsing, as when a whole or partial vacuum is created therein.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, i'eference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lis an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the improvement;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. V1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the4 arrangement of parts when the balloon is in its collapsed condition.

`The balloon portion of the airship is indicated by the numeral `5 and comprises an elongated body, the ends of which being reduced or cone-shaped. Arranged centrally in the body 5 is altube 6 which, as disclosed by the drawings,`may comprise a plurality of separable sections, and on the ends of this tube are adjustably secured collars 7 to which the ends of theballoon or bag 5 are connected. The collars"7 are arranged a `direction towardeach other, but are held Specication of Letters Patent.

Apositely disposed rings 10. y

In the disclosure in Fig.y l of the draw- `Patented Feb.

against outward movement over the ends of the tube by suitable flanges 8 on the said endsiof the tube.

On the tube 7 ai'e arranged the hubs 9 of a plurality ofring members 10,1-the said rings being connected to the hubs by radially disposed spokes 11. The rings 10 are secured, at desired intervalsto the bag or balloon 5, and, of course, the ringsl0 vary in size to conform to the different io. ieee.

parts of the balloon with which they engage,

and to which they are secured. Exterior brace elements, in the nature of flexible members, such as cables l2 may be .arranged aroundu the balloon, as disclosed by the f drawings, and if desired interior flexible brace members may be also provided, the latter, however, being connected to the opings, I have shown the collars 7 adjustably secured on the tube 6 throu h the medium of binding bolts 13, but, it is lto be understood, other and perhaps more eifective means may be employed for this purpose, and by reference'to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the binding elements 13 are released from the tube, the bag may be moved longitudinally in an inward direction from the opposite ends of the tube, thus collapsing the bag. Y

The car or ship 14: is supported from the balloon 5 through the medium of cables 15,

. the end cables being connected to the collars 8 and the side cables being arranged around the balloon at points where the same will contactwith certain of the rings 10. In the ship or car 14 is an engine 16 to the shaft 17 of which is secured the propeller 18, the said shaft outward of the ship or car being journaled in a bearing 19 that is supported varranged a safety valve 29 and a hand controlled outlet valve 30. Connected with the pump casing or cylinder 28 and with the balloon bag 5 is a pipe 31, the portion therej .pherebe flexible but on the metallic or non-flexible portion of this pipe is a hand control valve 32. The valve 32 is of the two-Way construction, When'turned to one position the saine Will open the passage in the pipe 3l in the pump and the be and when turned inan- .othe direction will close the pipe 31 at the Va pipe 34, havin@ a hand Qontrol valve 35,

While 01.1.v the and wall of the cylinder is a one-Way Qpeningvelve 36. When the valve 351 is open nld the @ylinder recproceted, and likewise the valve 32 is opened. to permit of a. freepassage from the pump to the ballOQIl, the gas Will be drawn from the Storage 'tank through the pipe 34., valve 35 and pipe 3l., nlatng .the barg- 'Ater the bag has been ),JrQperly inleted. the valves 30 and 35 are closed. The closing of the valve 30 prevents the lud from the. balloonv being Withdrawn therefrom, the Valve 35 closing the fluid tank 33,afnd the` velve 36 permitting of the free and in this manner the degreeor ascent or descent of the airship may be regulated.

If desired, theparts may be so arranged as topermit of the pump acting in a reverse manner to that described, so as to force the .air ont of the balloon to create either a vacuum or a partial vacuumv therein, and from the foregoingdescription, when taken in connGGtiOn with the drawings, the construction and operation of the apparatus will, it is thought, be fully understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, isz

In an airship, a balloon, a sectional tube extending longitudinally through the balloon, rigid Wheels havinnr hubs slidable on said tube and loosely engageable with the inner surface of said balloon, collars adjustably secured to the ends of said tube exteriorly of said balloon, flanges on the ends of Said tube for conning said collars thereon, cables connected to said collars, and a car supported by said cables.

JAMES F. OGlADl 

